38 Killed in Madeira Floods, Mudslides
At least 38 people are reportedly killed in flash floods and mudslides that hit the Portuguese holiday island of Madeira, say media reports without discounting possibilities of a further swell in the death toll.
Over a hundred injured have already been moved to local hospitals even as rescue workers are sifting the debris for more bodies or survivors from what is the worst natural disaster to hit this tourist haven in nearly a century.
Some 250 people were left homeless by the deadly downpour that washed away plans of a sunny vacation for the tourists.
While the regional government has insisted that there was “no serious incident involving the tourism sector.” The BBC on Sunday reported the presence of a ‘small number’ of Britons among the injured.
The heavy downpour Saturday (local time) triggered mudslides, washed away bridges, felled trees and left the roads blocked.
